He sent an email via a friend Jakir Uddin, 20, of Old Walsall Road, Birmingham, to Ecclestone's manager Dana Malmstrom on November 16, 2011, after the airing of reality TV show Billion $$ Girl.

In it, he fraudulently claimed to have received a Â£200,000 offer from a tabloid for a news story about their relationship.

Judge Andrew Goymer said: "This was an audacious attempt to obtain a large sum of money.

"You felt extremely hurt [after the split], and within a few days of writing a bitter message, you were selling your story to a tabloid newspaper [for Â£10,000 back in 2002] and that speaks volumes about your true character."

He added: "She came to your attention again in November 2011 when she was the subject of a television series.

"The email that you sent on 16 November in which you threatened to reveal personal details was not the product of a broken heart. All that was long in the past."

Ecclestone's lawyer Charlotte Harris said: "Ms Ecclestone was content to waive her anonymity in giving evidence because she strongly believes that all people have a right to be protected from such cynical and vicious behaviour.

"The sentence of four years is welcomed."

The jury did not reach a verdict on co-defendant Uddin, and the prosecution is currently considering whether or not to seek a retrial.